The Most Fun We Ever Had

A Novel

By: Claire Lombardo

Narrated by: Emily Rankin

Length: 20 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • “A gripping and poignant ode to a messy, loving family in all its glory.” —Madeline Miller, bestselling author of Circe

In this “rich, complex family saga” (USA Today) full of long-buried family secrets, Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, blithely ignorant of all that awaits them. By 2016, they have four radically different daughters, each in a state of unrest.

Wendy, widowed young, soothes herself with booze and younger men; Violet, a litigator turned stay-at-home-mom, battles anxiety and self-doubt; Liza, a neurotic and newly tenured professor, finds herself pregnant with a baby she's not sure she wants by a man she's not sure she loves; and Grace, the dawdling youngest daughter, begins living a lie that no one in her family even suspects.

With the unexpected arrival of young Jonah Bendt—a child placed for adoption by one of the daughters fifteen years before—the Sorensons will be forced to reckon with the rich and varied tapestry of their past. As they grapple with years marred by adolescent angst, infidelity, and resentment, they also find the transcendent moments of joy that make everything else worthwhile.

©2019 Claire Lombardo (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

Named a most anticipated book of the summer by O Magazine, People, Chicago Tribune, NY Post, InStyle, Good Housekeeping, Daily Beast, PopSugar, and LitHub

"A rich, engrossing family saga, spiked with sisterly malice...[rendered] with such skill and finely tuned interest that it feels like a quiet subversion of the traditional family saga." —The New York Times Book Review

"Ambitious and brilliantly written." —Jane Smiley, The Washington Post

Good story

I liked this book a lot. I did find there to be a lot of sex scenes between the parents. Their love was the central facet of the story, so I get it, but still, it felt repetitive. Great characters and wonderful writing, though.

Twenty some hours of dysfunction was hard to listen to.

The writing was well crafted and I guess the constant use of “f**k” is life imitating art. My hope for art is to elevate not denigrate or desensitize.
The sheer meanness between the sisters was hard to accept. Again, I wonder is this the author’s life?
Growing up with two other sisters, I have some experience with sisters, the three sisters we were known as. Sure, we fought but the plotting to hurt and revenge as portrayed is another aspect that was hard to accept.
Unfortunately I ended the novel as I started. With a husband and wife behaving as insipid accoutrements to self centered humans.
And life just goes on.
It is a pretty nihilistic read. :(

Lane attempt to make a boring story sexy

Normally I read a book through because sometimes it turns out better than it starts. I couldn’t bare to keep listening even though audible refused me a refund. It just felt forced. Unfortunate.

Loved all the characters!!!

Loved the dynamic between the sisters... all so different and realistic! Several surprises along the way. It was long but very pleasant. I feel like I know this family now!

Not a book about Fun!

I bought this book thinking it would be light hearted and a happy read. It is not. If you want a happy book about having fun don't buy this book.

The story was a good story but it is about family and the complicated relationships of being part of one. Not a lot of fun in this story.

Awsome

This book was a wonderful summer read. I loved the characters and I did not want the book to end. It was very engaging. Both funny and sad at times and I loved the dynamic of the two sisters.

I loved every character in this book

I’ve never read a book that so beautifully captured the love and pain, the imperfections and perfections of a family as well as this did... really really loved this book

good but too long

Good writing but way too long - interesting characters - lots of family dynamics - disappointed by ending

Beautiful book & outstanding narration

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and i think the narration played a huge part in that. Each character was well developed & the narrator did a great job of giving each character a distinct voice. It was a beautifully written story with likable characters.

A cut above the rest

I have read and listed to so many books over the years that I have become extremely picky. I get sick of formula, cliche writing, which is so common. I feel like I have heard the same stories over and over again. This book was different! The characters were believable and relatable, even if the main love story was perhaps a little too ideal. But in many ways, that was the point of the story! I enjoyed this book very much, and didn't find myself eye rolling even once. Well done.